Speed is vital in military operations. However, speed is pretty useless if an intimidating military vehicle can't access the objective. In such cases, amphibious vehicles would be the most practical and most suitable drives. Whether transporting troops into action or conducting rescue missions and medical evacuations (medevac), amphibious vehicles definitely have the advantage.
This is why the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Ground Forces (PLAGF) has commissioned a new type of amphibious armored vehicle configured for military medevac missions, various media reported, citing state-owned China Central Television (CCTV).
China's Newest Amphibious Armored Vehicle
The still unnamed amphibious armored vehicle, which was developed solely in China, was shown in footage shown by CCTV in late March. The amphibious vehicle has already entered medevac service with the PLAGF’s Xinjiang Military Command, which takes care primarily of the country's western provinces.
The amphibious armored vehicle seems to be a variant of the ZBL-09, a Type 09 family of 8x8 armored fighting vehicles (AFVs). Although CCTV didn’t disclose how fast the armored medevac vehicle can go, it did say it could travel for 100 km (62 miles) at a top speed of 40 km/h (24.8 mph) after its tires have been punctured by gunfire, Global Times reported. This means the tires could be of run-flat type.
Well-Equipped And Well-Armored
According to Janes, the amphibious armored vehicle is able to transport up to four severely injured and eight lightly injured personnel. It is medically capable thanks to medical equipment including monitors, respirators and infusion pumps. It can even allow medical personnel to perform simple surgeries for the heavily wounded, who would later get more proper treatment.
The amphibious armored vehicle is designed to take on heavy fire when on the front line. It's armor can withstand 7.62 mm rounds from the front and sides (close range fire) as well as shrapnel from explosives. The state media also reported that the amphibious armored vehicle is designed to offer protection against nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) threats.
A Demonstration Of Capabilities
To demonstrate the capability of its new amphibious armored vehicle, an arms regiment affiliated with the Xinjiang Military Command held an exercise. During this exercise, the vehicle was able to get to the rescue point situated around away 4 kilometers away (2.5 miles) within only five minutes. It did so despite the unsuitable road conditions in the high-altitude mountains.
Source: Global Times, Janes